Barred owls are not listed under the Endangered Species Act, however, they are becoming more abundant within the range of the federally threatened northern spotted owl. Barred owls occupy similar habitats to northern spotted owl, but are more aggressive and may be displacing northern spotted owls from their territories. The Final Recovery Plan for the Northern Spotted Owl identified the barred owl as a threat to the continued persistence of northern spotted owls in the Pacific Northwest.

Markings: Barred owls are a medium-sized owl (seventeen to twenty inches in length) of brownish-gray color with a pattern of brown and white bars on the breast.

Look-a-like Owls: Barred owls may be confused with northern spotted owls, which are slightly smaller than barred owls. Northern spotted owls are more of a chocolate brown color and have spots instead of bars on the breast.

In the western United States, barred owls use mixed conifer forests that have developed a multi-storied structure. Layered canopies in these forests provide opportunities for nesting, roosting, and foraging. Because barred owls do not build their own nests, they rely on existing structures such as cavities in snags (standing, dead trees), broken tops of trees, mistletoe clumps, and nests built by other forest raptors. Features such as snags and down logs are important hiding cover for prey species.

Barred owls lay one to five eggs in early spring, with a clutch commonly producing 2 to 3 chicks. Young fledge at about 4 to 5 weeks old, but are dependent upon their parents for food until late summer or early fall.

Current Information

A list of literature pertaining to barred owls, habitats, and prey is available here. Additional literature citations will be added to this list as they become available.